Accounting at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern's accounting program starts at a significant earnings disadvantage—graduates make $36,961 in their first year, which places them in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Texas accounting programs. That's nearly $30,000 less than the typical Texas accounting graduate earns initially. With $31,000 in debt (above both state and national medians), the financial pressure is real: that first-year salary barely covers basic expenses in Houston, one of Texas's more expensive cities.

The silver lining is meaningful earnings growth. By year four, graduates reach $52,809—a 43% increase that closes much of the gap with Texas's median. However, even this improved salary trails the state median by $10,000, and it's far below what graduates from UT Austin or Texas A&M earn right out of the gate. The institution serves a predominantly low-income student body (71% receive Pell grants), which partially explains both the higher debt burden and the career starting point—many students here are first-generation college students building professional networks from scratch.

For families prioritizing access to a four-year accounting degree at an open-admission university, this program provides that pathway. But parents should understand the financial reality: their child will likely start in bookkeeping or entry-level corporate accounting roles with limited margin for error in managing that debt. If higher-ranked Texas public universities are accessible, the salary premium—$30,000+ annually—makes them substantially better investments, even accounting for potentially higher admission barriers.